Foundation Bar is a cocktail bar restaurant in Downtown, Raleigh.
A pioneering subterranean cocktail bar on Fayetteville Street, open since 2009. Built on domestic spirits and NC draft beer; Imbibe-recognised cocktails.
Editorially verified June 24, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Seasonal domestic-spirits cocktails, NC-only draft beer
Address: 213 Fayetteville St, Suite 010, Raleigh, NC 27601
At the City Market since 1989, Big Ed's serves scratch-made biscuits, country ham, and grits. The room is deliberately unchanged; breakfast and lunch only.
Signature: Scratch biscuits, Country ham and eggs, Grits
Downtown Raleigh's most established Lebanese restaurant. Falafel, shawarma, mixed grill, and mezze across a long all-day window; Sunday brunch adds more.
Signature: Falafel, Mixed grill kabobs, Mezze
A beautifully restored 1906 newspaper building housing one of downtown's better gastropubs. The entire staff holds Cicerone certification; Belgian beer focus.
Signature: Belgian draft selections, Craft burgers
Over 400 whiskeys spanning bourbon, rye, Scotch, Irish, and Japanese paired with a Southern kitchen sourcing locally. NC trout is among the best in the city.
Signature: NC rainbow trout, Smoked catfish dip, Buttermilk biscuits
A Glenwood South bar built around 300-plus world whiskeys and rotating local draught beers. Opened in 2016; wine, mocktails, and THC beverages also available.
Signature: 300+ world whiskeys, Local draught beer
A Raleigh institution since 1938 and one of the oldest barbecue joints in North Carolina. Vinegar-and-pepper whole-hog sells out daily; arrive before noon.
Signature: Whole-hog pulled pork, Hush puppies, Coleslaw
At the City Market since 1989, Big Ed's serves scratch-made biscuits, country ham, and grits. The room is deliberately unchanged; breakfast and lunch only.
Signature: Scratch biscuits, Country ham and eggs, Grits
Downtown Raleigh's most established Lebanese restaurant. Falafel, shawarma, mixed grill, and mezze across a long all-day window; Sunday brunch adds more.
Signature: Falafel, Mixed grill kabobs, Mezze
A beautifully restored 1906 newspaper building housing one of downtown's better gastropubs. The entire staff holds Cicerone certification; Belgian beer focus.
Signature: Belgian draft selections, Craft burgers
Over 400 whiskeys spanning bourbon, rye, Scotch, Irish, and Japanese paired with a Southern kitchen sourcing locally. NC trout is among the best in the city.
Signature: NC rainbow trout, Smoked catfish dip, Buttermilk biscuits
